Telegraph-key



(Model) F. BAIN.

TELEGRAPH KEY.- V o. 248,270. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

Witnesses: v Inventor:

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FOREF] BAIN, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO POST & 00., OF

CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,270, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed January 10, 1861. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FOREE: BAIN, of New port, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented an Improved Telegraph-Key; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved telegraph-key applied to a desk or table. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the line was, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top-plan view, and Fig. 4is a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

My invention is designed to simplify theconstruction and improve the operation of telegraph-keys 5 and to the accomplishment of these results it consists, first, in combining an adjustable platinum disk with the key-lever and contact-point in the. anvil below for the purpose of changing the points of contact from time to time when continued use has rendered the contact at any one point defective or imperfect without stopping to clean the parts.

It also consists in providing the adjustable platinum disk with a spring-connection upon the key-lever for the purpose of imparting a certain degree of elasticity to the strokes of the key, and thereby avoiding the hard and unpleasant shocks incident to the use of nonyielding contacts.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents the metal base-plate of the instrument; B, the key-lever, hung upon' adjustable trunnions G at the rear end ofthe base; and D is the switchlever, pivoted at one side of the base in the usual manner.

N is a platinum disk attached to the end of its pin 0, passing down through the key-lever, so as to suspend the disk eccentrically over the anvil or lower contact-point, i. The pin fits snugly within thelever, but can be easily turned therein to present fresh surfaces of contact to the anvil i, and as the pin is unprovided with a screw-thread its changes of position do not vary the distance between the disk and an vil. This capacity for adjustment to present fresh portions of the disk to the anvil compensates for defective or imperfect contacts when the parts become dirty or are otherwise affected by use, while the employment of a smooth pin to carry the disk enables the operator when manipulating the key to press one finger against the head 'of the pin and thus turn it to adjust the disk.

For the purpose of imparting elasticity to the strokes of the disk upon the anvil a flat spring, P, is secured at one end to the under side of the lever, with its freeend around the pin 0 between the leverand disk. This spring exerts its tension downward to hold the disk away from the under side of the lever, so that the blows of the latter shall be absorbed by the spring, and thereby softened to relieve the labor of operating the key.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a telegraph transmitting-key, a contact-disk pivoted through the key-lever, turning freely on its bearings therein, and'having' a vertical play, substantially as described.

2. In a telegraph transmitting-key, a contact-disk pivoted through the key-lever, turning freely on its bearings therein, and having a vertical play, in combination with a key-lever pivoted at one endand a spring, substantially as described.

The foregoing specification of my invention signed by me this 6th day of January, A. D. 1881.

ronne BAYIN.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH Cox, J r., E. A, ELLSWORTH. 

